Thursday, August 11, 2011

Back to school dreams, planning & a little HELP

Now that August has arrived I've been thinking more and more about school. It's been slowly creeping up in the back of my mind. Last night I even had my first (of what will be many) back to school dreams. Do you eve have these? I do every year. Last's night was not a terribly bad one. On the first day of school I had over 100 messages from parents and I had to return all the calls before the bell rang. I've had worse, usually involving children that won't listen to me or getting fired.

Now most of you may not realize that I have a type A personality. I'm very much a planner, the more planning the better (however you all know that when it comes to teaching all the planning in the world doesn't matter, kids are so surprising and wonderful) Nonetheless I am a planner. I started making a year long plan for kindergarten (which I am teaching for the first time).

This is very much a rough draft, but I wanted to share it for feedback. All you wonderful, fantastic, wise kindergarten teachers, please take a look at it and let me know what you think. I really would appreciate it. (I really liked the format that Jackie Gray used over at Here We Go Loopty Loo, she also did I year long plan that gave me great inspiration for mine!)Kindergarten Year Long Plan Version 2.0
I also begin to plan out the first 30 days of kindergarten. I began with writer's workshop because that where my comfort level is. I've been teaching WW in first and second grade for over 5 years so I just took what I knew and adapted it to kindergarten, but again I would really love some feedback. Eventually I will share my Reader's workshop and phonics plans too.

For WW I would like to know if I am planning too much? Is this a realistic expectation for 5 year olds? Am I setting them up for writing success? What did I leave out? What should I expand on?
Luckily I am still several weeks away from starting. My first day with my sweet kindergarten class will be Tuesday, September 6th. Lots of time to plan, dream and worry about whether or I not I will make a great kindergarten teacher!

I made the plunge from 1st to K last year and it was such a good fit my principal asked me to stay in K. I hope your experience is as positive as mine! I remember being so overwhelmed about teaching non-readers and writers, but everything worked out fine. I treated them like mini first graders who needed a lot of modeling and picture support and they rose to the challenge.

Writers workshop is one area I struggle with a little bit because I am not a great writer myself (I am much more comfortable with math and science!). I tend go fast and do too much too soon with my mini lessons. I have found myself wishing for a 180 day outline to follow and you just gave me the next best thing. I have Katie Wood Ray's About the Authors. Do you have any suggestions for other writing workshop based texts?

Thank you so much!! Writing is an area that I struggle in because I am not a good writer myself. I am so excited about this!!! If there is a link that will help me with the rest of this or a book that I could purchase, please let me know. I appreciate your work and your help. My email is kim@judyscraftsonline.comThanks!

I can feel your trepidation--I am moving from 3rd for the past 13 years to TP (transitional primary, the class between K and 1st)The last time I taught 1st was about 25 years ago and soo much has changed. Thank you for posting your writing workshop plans, they are a great guide. Me email is fcarnes@hillsborough.k12.nj.us if you send the link. Thanks again, Fran

This is awesome! Im having trouble downloading Kindergarten Year Long Plan Version 2.0 off of scribed. Can you please email me a pdf so I can print, look over, highlight, and plan effectively for next year!! Thank you. atamez2@stedwards.edu

Post a Comment

About Me

I have been teaching 12 years, all of them in grades k-2. I am currently teaching a k-1st loop and loving it.( I have my bachelor and master degrees in elementary education and last year I earned my National Board Certification in Early Childhood Education. I have 2 darling daughters (most of the time) and a wonderful husband, Mr. M. I love cooking, doing anything in the outdoors and traveling.